Wendy Batson
This week we are highlighting instructor Candace Kauffman! Tune in Wednesday, August 7th as she takes over Wilson’s Instagram Story!
Candace, a Columbia native, has a strong dance background. She began her dance training at five years old when she was enrolled in ballet at her family’s church. Around the age of eleven, she was enrolled in the Halcyone Ewalt Perlman School of Ballet, now the Perlman-Stoy School of Ballet (Mid-Missouri Dance Theatre), where she studied under the close tutelage of Halcyone Perlman and performed in yearly concerts from junior high through high school. In addition to dance, Candace is very athletic and played volleyball from 7th-9th grade. In high school, she successfully auditioned and was accepted into the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Shortly after moving to New York City, she began professional dance training at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center where she studied ballet, West African, Modern, Horton, Dunham, dance choreography, and more. Today, Candace resides in Columbia, and is a licensed cosmetologist at Riversong Spa and Salon. She is a guest instructor and choreographer at the Perlman-Stoy School of Ballet. Candace is wife to husband, Eric, and mother to two precious children, Jamila and Xavier.
Working out and staying active helps Candace continue to do what she is very passionate about…dance. Candace started teaching at Wilson’s in 2016 and earned her certification in Les Mills BodyAttack in 2017. She currently teaches Hot Barre, BodyAttack, and African Dance She is passionate about helping people achieve their goals and look their best. She would be elated to have you in any of her classes!
Check out a sneak peek into her life this Wednesday on our Instagram Story or join her for class this Wednesday at 9:15AM (Wilson’s on Rangeline) for African Dance or 5:30PM (Wilson’s on Forum) for Hot Barre.
Since 1975, Mary Ann has instructed all ages in aquatic programs. This fall, after relocating in Columbia from Michigan, she is looking forward to working with people that would like to improve their swimming skills. “My job is rewarding because I am helping people learn and improve on a life long skill.”